Michigan getting snowfall during the summer months sounds like something out of a science fiction movie. It just doesn't seem realistic.

As crazy as it may seem, Michigan did experience snowfall in the summer over 200 years ago.

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What Year Did Michigan See Snowfall in the Summer?

It was the summer of 1816 when Michigan, along with 18 other states reported accumulating snowfall during the month of June.

The summer of 1816 became known as “The Year Without a Summer.”

What Caused This Strange Weather Anomaly?

As strange as it may sound, Mount Tambora, a volcano in the Dutch East Indies was to blame.

According to UCAR, on April 5, 1815, Mount Tambora started to rumble with activity. Over the following four months, the volcano exploded - it was the largest volcanic explosion in recorded human history.

An estimated 71,000 people lost their lives as a result of the eruption.

The eruption was so massive that it ejected ash and aerosols into the atmosphere. So much so that the sky darkened and the sun was blocked from view. The ash spread through the atmosphere over the following months which ultimately had a worldwide effect on climate.

Due to the sparse population of the Midwest during this time, there are few reports from Michigan about its effects here due to the lack of weather observations. The only thing that is known for sure is that there was snowfall.

Michigan State University:

There were a number of heavy snowstorms in June, which killed hundreds. Amazingly, ice was reported on southern Canadian lakes during the summer months. Presumably, the weather was very similar to this throughout the Midwest, including Michigan.

Mount Tambora is still active today.

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